Ames rallies against intolerance

Sunday

Aug 13, 2017 at 5:34 PMAug 14, 2017 at 9:14 AM

By Michael Crumb Editor mcrumb@amestrib.com

Bandshell Park in Ames quickly transformed from a quiet bastion of a sleepy Ames afternoon Sunday into a rousing rally promoting tolerance and showing solidarity for the victims of the violence that erupted the day before in Charlottesville, Va., when white nationalists and protesters clashed over the city's plans to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Approximately 35 people were injured. One woman was killed when a car crashed into a crowd of people. Two Virginia state troopes died when the helicopter they were in monitoring the skirmish crashed. Violence was absent from Sunday's rally in Ames, where organizers announced that more than 350 showed up to listen to speakers, sing and join in prayer for those involved in Saturday's skirmishes, for tolerance and for the end to the divide that's plaguing the country.

Young and not so young alike held signs denouncing white supremacy and intolerance, cheered and applauded the handful of speakers who took the Bandshell Park stage, and joined in song during the rally that lasted just under an hour.

Organizer Ria Keinert began making plans for the rally after hearing of the violence in Charlottesville, and word quickly spread through social media as Keinert and others tried to promote the gathering.